SERVICES are taking place across the UK today to mark Anzac Day, which celebrates the military efforts of Australian and New Zealand servicemen at Gallipoli during World War I.

On this day, the Ode of Remembrance is recited – but what is it and why is it so important? We explain.

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The Ode to Remembrance is taken from Laurence Binyon's best known poem For The FallenCredit: AP:Associated Press

What is the Ode to Remembrance?

The Ode of Remembrance is taken from Laurence Binyon's poem, For the Fallen.

It was first published in The Times in September 1914, and was specifically composed in honour of the casualties of the British Expeditionary Force.

At the time of writing, troops from the British Expeditionary Force had already suffered severely at the Battle of Mons and the Battle of the Marne in the opening phase of the war on the Western Front.

Over time, the third and fourth stanzas of the poem have been claimed as a tribute to all casualties of war, regardless of state.

These particular stanzas make up the Ode of Remembrance.

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The Ode is claimed as a tribute to all casualties of warCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Who wrote For The Fallen and what was the inspiration behind it?

Laurence Binyon composed his best known poem while sitting on the cliff-top looking out to sea from the dramatic scenery of the north Cornish coastline.

The poem was written in mid-September 1914, a few weeks after the outbreak of the First World War.

During these weeks the British Expeditionary Force had suffered casualties following its early encounters with the Imperial German Army.

In 1939, Binyon claimed that the four lines of the fourth stanza came to him first.

It is this stanza that went on to become both incredibly familiar and famous, having been adopted by the Royal British Legion as an Exhortation for ceremonies of Remembrance to commemorate fallen servicemen and women.

When is the ode recited?

The Ode of Remembrance is regularly recited at memorial services held on days commemorating World War I, such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, and Remembrance Sunday.

In Australia's Returned and Services Leagues, and in New Zealand's Returned Services Associations, it is read out nightly at 6pm and is followed by a minute's silence.

In Australia and New Zealand it is also part of the Dawn service at 4.28am.

Recitations of the Ode of Remembrance are often followed by a playing of the Last Post.

In Canadian remembrance services, a French translation is often used along with or instead of the English ode.

What are the words to the Ode of Remembrance?

Third Stanza:

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.”

Fourth Stanza:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.”

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